A Terrifying End To A Day With Friends
It was a summer night, June 2011, when three teenage boys ventured into the woods behind Ty Kiser’s house in Sulphur, Oklahoma. They had high hopes of shooting at game, exploring the territory and sharing “boy” stories; however, by evening’s end, they faced a much different kind of journey.
The boys eventually began to make their way back to Ty’s house; that is when one of the guns accidentally discharged, striking Ty in the chest. One friend stayed with Ty, the other ran to Ty’s house where Sissy, Ty’s mother, was expecting the boys to return with grand stories of hunting and exploring. She was not expecting a panicky voice to yell the words, “Ty has been shot!”
Mom and Ty’s friend quickly drove to the edge of the woods where they found Ty with a small bullet wound in his chest. Sissy, knowing it could be life-threatening, called Murray County Emergency Medical Services but did not wait for help to arrive. They loaded Ty, who now was unable to walk, and transported him by car to Arbuckle Memorial Hospital emergency room in Sulphur.
To combat possible internal bleeding and shock, Ty was immediately given 2 units of O-negative blood (the universal blood type), a typical procedure for trauma patients. Doctors quickly decided to transport Ty via helicopter to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City for more treatment options, but before he could make the flight, Ty needed an additional 2 units of blood.
When the helicopter landed at OU Medical Center, a team of trauma doctors quickly realized Ty would need emergency surgery. Doctors told Sissy her son had “a better chance of dying than living.” During the 6-hour surgery, doctors removed one of Ty’s lungs. Ty received 68 more units of blood in the first 24 hours after his surgery!
Ty remained in the Trauma One Center at OU Medical Center for 59 days and another 20 days in rehab at The Children’s Center in Bethany before being released on August 22, 2011. Neither Ty nor his mother had been home in nearly 3 months!
Ty and his family, like most people, tend to take for granted that emergency personnel and blood products will be available when needed. That has forever changed for Ty’s family; they are extremely grateful for both the medical staff and blood that saved his life; never again will they take that for granted.
“Thanks doctors, nurses, and Medi-flight personnel for saving Ty’s life! And thanks Oklahoma Blood Institute for maintaining a secure supply of life-saving blood!”—Sissy Kiser.
A Long, Hard Road by Jodi Brown
On January 2, 2007, my husband and I began the drive south on I-35 toward home. My husband, Trey, was at the wheel. Suddenly, we veered off the road, hit a culvert, and flipped end over end several times. My husband had fallen asleep.
After the car careened to a stop, Trey freed himself. He rushed toward me, noticing that I was literally hanging from the seat belt. Able to free me, he began applying pressure to stop the bleeding. We both knew that the injury was severe. 
By what I believe to be the grace of God, a witness to the wreck stopped, called 911, and put out the engine fire with an extinguisher that he just happened to put in his truck that very morning. He also continued to reassure my husband, who had sustained deep bruising and air bag burns, but they both realized that I needed help…and fast.
I was medi-flighted to OU Medical Center’s Trauma Center, where I immediately underwent surgery, the first of four that I would endure over the next month. All in all, I lost so much blood during those surgeries that I required about 14 units of blood and 3-4 units of platelets.
Through the rest of 2007 I had four more surgeries and was in the hospital for a total of 85 nights! It was definitely a long and hard road to recovery. Because I am a rare blood type (only 9% of the population is O-negative) and can receive only my type, I am fiercely thankful that there are people who donate regularly; they saved my life!
This past October, I celebrated my 28th birthday, something I would not have experienced had it not been for donors who had given selflessly and regularly. I now donate, too, in hopes that someday, if need be, my blood can help to save a life.
A Feeling of Duty Turns Personal
I have been a blood donor since the fall of 1983. As of this writing, I have given around 95 units of blood. I do not want credit!! Over the years, people have asked me, “Why are you so adamant about giving blood? Did someone close to you need it?” My response was always, “No, I feel it is my human duty to donate blood as long as I’m healthy enough to give.”
Well, that all changed between April 25 through May 12, 2011. My mother had breathing problems for many years and bleeding ulcers that caused additional critical health issues. She was in ICU for 3 weeks, first at Great Plains in Elk City and later at Baptist in Oklahoma City, where she passed away.
Now, I have a personal purpose for my blood donations. I want to ask people to give blood in memory of Marcia Kay Matthews, Elk City, or someone they love. I will continue to be a regular blood donor, every 56 days, and will ALWAYS think of my mother as I give.
OBI wishes to thank Diane for using the “Share Your Story” button on the home page to tell us her story.
It’s All About Giving
It is because of Oklahoma Blood Institute that I am alive today! Two years ago, while working in Africa, I was bitten in the small of my back by a spider. Being a typical guy, I did not pay much attention to it and later returned to the US.
I then saw my doctor who began treatment; however, things just kept getting worse. From marble to ping pong ball to golf ball to baseball size, the knot continued to grow. Eventually, I ended up in the ER, where I contracted MRSA.
On my second visit to the ER, my body totally shut down. I was rushed into surgery to remove the infected tissue. During surgery, I was given blood which helped to save my life.
I am alive today because someone gave me the gift of blood that I needed. After months of care, I have fully recovered. I will forever be grateful to the hospital, the donors, and OBI for giving me back the opportunity to help others*.
*Ken is the founder of Water Is Life, a non-profit organization that strives to provide both short-term temporary and long-term sustainable water solutions in developing countries.
Ridge Cary - Update
Ridge Cary, received more than 30 blood transfusions from OBI by the time he was 7 months old, resulting from a rare vascular disorder known as MLT. Now 2 and a half, Ridge has not had to undergo transfusion since June 28! His hemoglobin is now in a safe range, and he has actually produced some blood on his own. Although he has, in the past few months, suffered from seasonal allergies, strep throat, and poison ivy, he did not bleed internally. His platelets have also climbed steadily over the past 12 months, rising to what is considered a healthy level. In the words of his mother, “He has been a rockstar!”
The family was also able to travel out of town this past summer, attending a family wedding and a Rangers baseball game. Traveling with Ridge is new to the Cary family. “For the first time in 2 years we were really comfortably able to take him somewhere without fearing he’d need hospitalization.”
According to Alisha, Ridge’s mom, Ridge is tremendous fun and a barrel of laughs, and they feel tremendously blessed. “Without the willingness of the many donors like you who have given blood, and without your blood itself, my son would not be here today. Thank you for donating—for Ridge and for everyone who will need blood in the future—and please continue to do so. You are a hero, whether you know it or not.”
Family Hog Wild About Donating Blood
On a typical day, one might find Christian and Benjamin Falcon, 3-year old twin boys, playing with their siblings or chasing goats on their parents’ hog farm in Tecumseh. These happy youngsters are enjoying life thanks to Oklahoma Blood Institute donors.
The twins were born prematurely at 28 weeks. Though their mother Tina had experienced the same situation with her older daughter, Fayth, the boys needed blood transfusions to survive.
“As a parent, your first reaction is to donate your own blood,” Tina said. “However, it’s impossible for you to donate blood and for it to be screened and tested in time when your child needs it.”
Now three years later, Benjamin and Christian have grown to be happy and healthy.
“We are so grateful to those who take time to donate blood,” said Tina.
Many people take for granted that blood is always available at hospitals whenever a life-threatening need arises. However, the demand for blood is great, and sometimes supplies get low. This is especially true during the holidays when people are traveling and occupied with other activities.
Each year, the Oklahoma Pork Council teams up with OBI to host a state-wide, pre-Memorial Day blood drive. A total of 1,546 donors participated in the 2011 event.
Pictured: Christian and Benjamin Falcon with their sisters at the family’s hog farm.
Our Ultimate “Thanks-giving”
My name is Cindy Draper. I became a blood donor when I was 17; I became an even greater advocate of OBI and blood donation when I began working as a recruiter. My husband Jason and I didn’t realize, however, what a huge impact it would eventually have on our personal lives!
In 2007, our second child, Lilli Jo, was born with TEF (tracheoesophageal fistula), a birth defect in which the trachea is connected to the esophagus. This developmental abnormality occurs in about one of every 3,000 births. The surgery to repair this damage required 5 units of blood.
In 2011, our third daughter, Bethany, was born with a congenital heart defect; the two major vessels (aorta and pulmonary) were transposed. We were immediately told that she would have to undergo open heart surgery. Bethany required more than 30 units of blood during surgery!
We felt both secure and thankful during these surgeries: we knew that both of our daughters would be getting the safest blood in the nation and we knew, because Oklahoma blood donors are dedicated and loyal, there would be an ample blood supply to assist in the operations that would save their lives. Thank you, blood donors and OBI, for providing this life-saving product!
OBI wishes to thank Cindy for using “Share Your Story” to tell us her story.
Out of Africa by Jeff Bingham
“I’ve learned there are some things worth having, but they come at a price, and I want to be one of them.” The quote is from a woman named Karen, the subject of the 1937 novel and subsequent movie “Out of Africa”.
As I get older, I confess to conjuring up a bit of a “bucket list”, but admittedly, traveling to Africa was not tops in that department. Not, that is until a colleague and I were discussing potential for the establishment of a business line in Kigali, Rwanda. Then we began to discuss the need to go establish banking and other relationships, and I began to get a bit more interested. Seeing the “Gorillas in the Mist”? Hmm.
Then, we began to discuss necessary vaccinations, and he said the fateful words: “You won’t be able to give blood anymore”.
Ouch. Small stick, then a burn, followed by several small squeezes…
There is a blood drive coming up soon at our church, and even before hearing a passionate plea this past Sunday morning regarding the value of blood donations from the father of a cancer patient, the friendly vampires from Oklahoma Blood Institute had called to inform me that I was again “eligible”.
As evidenced by the stack of T-shirts pictured, and this is only a fraction of those collected over the years, I’ve donated a few gallons in my time.
You see, Bing (Jeffrey Bing) really is an agent 007, and I even have that logo on an OBI shirt to prove it. I possess O-negative blood, the universal donor type, as does .7%* (.007) of our society. To top it all off, I am CMV negative as well, meaning I’ve never had a common flu like virus where antibodies would be harmful to preemie babies and others who are ill.
I must admit, I don’t love the exercise of giving, but I cherish being gifted to perform said act. Very few people can give their blood and know that a small baby or a very sick loved one might see new days because of my slight inconvenience and minor pain. I don’t know that I’m ready to give that up, just yet. I’m just not sure if my calling is over in that department.
At my last donation, I was feeling good about clearing over 4 gallons when an older gentlemen nearby told me that he’d surpassed 13. Wow. I was humbled. Maybe I needed to hear that as a challenge and motivation to prioritize “the list”.
Maybe the gorillas will have to be seen on Discovery Channel. Maybe the banking can be done via phone, internet, and FedEx. Maybe a yet to be born child needs “a little bit o’ Bing” to brighten their day?
Here’s where you come in: are you giving the gift of life? Some can’t for various reasons, but many can but have never tried. You could save a life. You could save many!
“I’ve learned there are some things worth having, but they come at a price, and I want to be one of them.” I think I’m not done being an OBI special agent just yet, even if it keeps me “Out of Africa”.
*Currently O-negative donors make up 9% of the US population.
OBI wishes to thank Jeff for using the “Share Your Story” button to tell us his story.
Forever Grateful
On May 22, 2009, at 38 weeks pregnant, I was rushed to the hospital having labor pains. By the time I got into a room the nurse could not find my baby’s heartbeat; my baby had died. I had suffered a placental abruption. By the time they figured it out, I was in trouble, full DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation). I received 6 whole blood units as well as platelets and plasma.
Even though that was a horrific event, I am so thankful that my life was saved through the generous gifts of blood donors. It has allowed me to enjoy my almost 4-year-old son, and, more recently, a beautiful 7-month-old son. Going through such hardships and almost losing my own life has helped me to realize just how precious life is. I never take a day for granted and cherish each moment I spend with my boys. I am so very grateful for the blood donation that saved my life so I can be here for my children. I thank God every day that I am so blessed!
*Marsha lives in Moore, OK and is married to her high school sweetheart, Billy.
OBI wishes to thank Marsha for using the “Share Your Story” button to tell us her story.
Ada Celebrates Life with Lauryn
Like many 6-year-old little girls, Lauryn Watkins enjoys dancing, singing and pretending she’s a princess. But for more than a year now, life for this vibrant child hasn’t been typical.
Lauryn was diagnosed with Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in February 2010. It began with symptoms similar to a sinus infection. Rounds of antibiotics provided no relief, and, additionally, Lauryn would randomly spike a fever and suffer from intense leg pains causing her to crawl instead of walk.
Now, almost a year and a half after being diagnosed, it’s clear that cancer picked the wrong princess. Though she has endured two bone marrow biopsies, many spinal taps, numerous doses of intense chemotherapydrugs and more, Lauryn has her cancer in remission and is now in the maintenance stage of her treatment.
During her winning battle, she has received the generous, life-saving gift of blood from six Oklahoma Blood Institute donors. Her mother, Sherri Ellis, says she appreciates those who have helped Lauryn get through very difficult times.
“There is still a possibility that Lauryn could need future transfusions,” said Sherri. “I urge anyone who’s able to donate to do so, in order for lives to continue to be saved.”